Even a dog can break its toe and, like us humans, it involves a lot of pain.
He stumbles, falls or catches his paw – and the screaming is loud.
In this article you will learn what you need to know about a broken toe in a dog.
Broken toe in the dog – causes
We humans tend to break our toes when we accidentally bump into a table.
In dogs, too, the most common reason for a broken toe is simply clumsiness.
A violent leap out of the trunk, an unfortunate step into a hole in the ground or even getting stuck in a crack in the floor: all of these can lead to your dog not only spraining his paw, but actually breaking a toe.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for very small dog breeds to run around between the legs of their owners. If you then accidentally step on their paws, it can even end in a broken toe.
Important!
Poor diet leads to lower bone density. This makes the bone more susceptible to fractures, especially in delicate areas such as the paws.
Broken Toe in Dogs: Signs & Symptoms
With a broken toe, your dog will no longer want to put weight on his paw. He therefore clearly limp and avoids any contact.
Sometimes you can also see swelling on the paw after a short time.
Dogs often show their pain clearly by howling or whimpering when the affected area is touched.
However, some dogs suffer silently and only lick their paws a lot in a helpless attempt to assuage the pain.
How can I help my dog?
The most important thing is that your dog does not have to put weight on his paw. If he allows it, you can also wear him a piece.
Since only a vet can relieve the pain and treat the fracture, you should not waste any time and refrain from trying a splint or cast yourself.
Caution:
A broken toe causes a lot of pain. This allows even the most docile dog to react aggressively to touch and snap at you.
Therefore, always be careful with touches and movements and do not take any risks.
When should I go to the vet?
A fracture must always be treated by a veterinarian. Only she can prescribe painkillers and take measures to support healing.
If you’re not sure if your dog has a broken toe or just a sprained paw, you should still schedule a vet visit just to be on the safe side.
Even if your dog is showing pain or not just limping briefly, veterinary care is advisable regardless of the actual diagnosis.
After an accident, the probability of a fracture is very high, even if your dog doesn’t show any signs of it at first.
Since internal injuries must always be ruled out, a check-up is necessary anyway, in which your veterinarian will also take an X-ray to be on the safe side.
Does a broken toe require surgery?
Surgery is not usually necessary for a broken toe.
Inserting a metal rod to stabilize the bones as they grow together can only be helpful in the case of a very complicated fracture or special pre-existing conditions in the bone structure.
However, these usually remain in the body afterwards, so that there is no need for a second operation to remove the rod.
Treatment of a broken toe in a dog
The usual treatment for a dog’s broken toe is to put on a cast or splint to take pressure off the bone.
This allows your dog to move around more freely again, but rest and relaxation are the order of the day.
Painkillers also help improve your situation and make healing less stressful.
Your vet will usually prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs as a prophylactic measure so that no problems can arise in the first place.
If the fracture is accompanied by an open wound, antibiotics are also used.
Broken toe in the dog: cost
If your dog has broken his toe, you have to come with him Costs for the initial treatment or examination at the vet between 15 and 40 euros calculate. If this one X-ray picture caused you should 20 to 100 euros factor in.
Think of them too follow-up examinationsthat the veterinarian must undertake. Overall you can at a conservative fracture treatmentwhich is usually sufficient for a broken toe, with approx. 200 euros calculate.
Is a Surgery necessary in individual casesyou should up to 1500 Euro plan on.
Healing Time: How long does it take for the fracture to heal?
A broken toe takes just as long to heal in dogs as it does in humans. The healing time is approximately 4 to 6 weeksuntil the toe has fully healed.
The healing time also depends on age, race and bone density and general health of the dog. Of course, another important factor is how long and how well the dog’s toe was spared.
However, this is often difficult, as young dogs in particular are difficult to keep calm.
The following applies: the more the dog protects its affected paw and lets it rest, the faster it grows together again.
Conclusion – dog broke his toe
A broken toe is very painful, even for dogs. Therefore, it must be looked after professionally in any case.
Such a fracture usually heals well, but it takes at least a month to heal.
Has your dog ever broken his toe? How did this happen? How long did it take before he was no longer in pain? Tell us about your experiences in the comments.